My nephew starts senior school this week (the tissues are at the ready). Of course there will be the compulsory photo at the front door, all dressed up in his crisp shirt, pressed trousers and brand new rucksack. There's a clear plastic geometry set never to be used for its real purpose, a pristine white rubber and dangerously sharp HB pencils all kept safely in a carefully chosen pencil case.

Out of all the school paraphernalia the pencil case has to be a particular favourite of mine. It holds more than just pens and pencils. It holds secrets too.

You see, it's all to do with the zip. Fold a note into a tiny white square, nestle it in between the ink and lead, close the zip and it's your own private safe.

Block printed pencil case from make-it-your-own.com

Embroidered pencil pouch from jacksandkate.com

Make a toilet roll pencil case with onelmon.com

Personalised pencil case from delineateyourdwelling.com

Make a no-sew pencil holder with micasarevista.com (instructions are in Spanish but the video tutorial should help)

Lying on a beach for 2 weeks with nothing to do but read. Bliss.
Being pampered at a spa for couple of hours. Heaven.
 
Or at least that was until I caught the craft bug.

For some reason doing nothing just isn't, well, doing it for me anymore. Maybe I'm getting old and feel that every second has to count or maybe it's just because after a day in the spa I still look the same as when I went in! Whatever the reason I have well and truly jumped onto the creative workshop band wagon that is currently rolling through the UK.

I recently went on a Saturday night out with my mum, sister, niece, sister-in-law and auntie to, wait for it...a felt brooch making workshop, and it made for an absolutely brilliant girls night out. We all left with something beautiful to wear (so we could smugly say when asked; "Oh, this old thing? Yes, I made that!") but best of all we had such a laugh doing it.

We made mistakes together, "ooh'ed" and "aah'ed" at each others achievements and learned new skills to carry on at home. We all agreed that the workshop left us feeling energised and inspired to take on the next new challenge, sort of how we've felt after spa days together, which lead me to thinking; Are creative workshops the new spa days?
 
Another great thing about doing something creative is that it can be massively therapeutic and relaxing. 15 minutes into the pop-up screen printing workshops that I hold and people's shoulders relax and their minds drift off to another place. Creative workshops are becoming more and more popular in the business world too as break out sessions at staff development days. Managers are realising that doing something completely different from work related activities re-energises and encourages team bonding.
 
There are loads of workshops popping up all over the place at the moment - anything from a 2 hour taster session to an entire weekend full of creativity. So what are you waiting for? Jump right in, the water's fine.

Friday night is takeaway night at the Moore's and sometimes the only thing that hits the spot is a kebab. Yes, yes, if I knew the truth then I wouldn't go within 3 feet of a doner but that's another story.

You'd have to go a long way to describe me as an eco warrior but when I look at the greasy polystyrene box destined for the bin I always feel a bit guilty. I mean, you can't recycle it, you can't re-use it to store food, so off it goes to landfill, right? Not so fast!

You can use the polystyrene to make printing plates that you can use again and again to print greetings cards, wrapping paper, gift tags and original prints for your home.

Give it a go this weekend

A clean polystyrene takeaway box
Scissors
Pencil
Grease proof paper
Acrylic or poster paint
Brush
Card
Metal spoon

1. Cut out a piece from the polystyrene box big enough to draw your design onto.

2.Draw your design onto the grease proof paper using a pencil.

3. Turn the grease proof paper over and place it face down onto the piece of polystyrene that you cut out.

4. Trace over the back of the design to transfer it to the polystyrene. (Alternatively you can draw straight onto the polystyrene, just remember to create your design in reverse).

5. Remove the grease proof paper and go over the design on the polystyrene with the pencil making sure to leave an impression.

6. Using a paint brush evenly paint over the design making sure not to overload polystyrene.

7. Turn the polystyrene over and place it face down onto the card. Rub the back of the polystyrene firmly with the back of a spoon.

8. Lift the polystyrene off from the card and you have made your first print.

9. Reload the paint and reuse the polystyrene plate and over and over again. If the design starts to loose its clarity then wash and dry it before loading with paint again.

I know what you're thinking; "who are those cute 80's children?" Well, my friends, those cool cats are my two brothers and I, picking apples in our neighbour's garden.
 
26 years ago, when Mel and Kim topped the charts and we were powered by Skittles ("taste the rainbow"), this is one way we'd spend a warm autumnal Saturday afternoon. Each apple was carefully wiped, wrapped in newspaper and put into the store. Any that we're bruised were made into apple pie with cinnamon, sprinkled with sugar and drowned in cream.

This introduction to grow-your-own is what got me started down the self-sufficiency route. On my allotment I grow apple varieties Discovery, James Grieves and Charles Ross - and it's the season to be picking.

If you don't have your own apple tree then there are apple festivals happening throughout the UK this month or perhaps ask a friendly neighbour and if all else fails go to a farmer's market and try some new varieties.

Of course, you're going to need somewhere to put all of those ripe, shiny apples so here are the instructions to make a quick and easy, no-sew t-shirt bag.

T-shirt
Dress making scissors
Tape measure
Plate
Pen
No-sew iron on hemming strips

1. Cut off the arms of the t-shirt leaving the seam intact

(Please supervise children whilst using scissors)

2. Enlarge the neck hole by drawing a half circle using a plate and then cut out the shape (make sure you leave at least 6-7cm between the arm and the new neckline)

3. Turn the t-shirt inside out

4. Cut 2 pieces of the iron-on hemming strips to the width of the t-shirt.

5. Place the first strip inside the t-shirt approximately 3cm from the bottom opening and iron. Put the second strip inside the t-shirt, just below the first, and iron that as well. (Check manufacturers instructions for iron heat settings). The two strips will give your bag extra strength.

(Please supervise children whilst using the iron or you might have to do this step for them.)

6. Turn your bag the right way round and you're ready to go apple picking.

Notes:

Please supervise children at all times whilst making this bag as scissors can be sharp and irons can be hot. 

This bag can also be sewn, if you prefer. In step 4 sew 2 rows approximately 2cms and then 3cms from the bottom hemline.